Bill would let Louisiana parishes limit terms for school board members

Residents would have the option of imposing term limits on school board members and statewide elected officials under a pair of bills approved by a House committee Wednesday. The bills, filed by Rep. Steve Pugh and Rep. Simone Champagne, would put both issues before voters on the November ballot.

Rep. Steve Pugh, R-Ponchatoula

Under House Bill 292, filed by Pugh, R-Ponchatoula, residents in each school district would vote to decide whether to limit their school board members to three consecutive four-year terms.

The bill exempts the Recovery School District and charter school boards from the referendum. Voters in Jefferson and Lafayette parishes, where school board members already face term limits, are also exempt.

Mike Delesdernier, president of the Jefferson Parish School Board, spoke in support of the bill, arguing that the school system needs a shake-up. Delesdernier was part of a wave of five new members on the nine-person Jefferson Parish School Board that took office in January.

"Change is necessary to improve education," Delesdernier said.

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, Blueprint Louisiana and the Council for a Better Louisiana, which have all been involved in efforts to overhaul the state's education system, also supported the measure, arguing it would prevent stagnation and the consolidation of power by board members.

Steve Monaghan, president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, said the bill was unnecessary and would lead to the loss of good, experienced elected officials.

"There is already a local option for the public to impose a one-term limit on any elected official," Monaghan said, referring to the ability to vote against them in the next election.

He also predicted, "We will see terms that are incomplete because of an engaged citizenry," a reference to the possibility of recall elections.

Pugh's bill was moved to the floor by a 5-3 vote, with Reps. Jared Brossett, D-New Orleans; Michael Danahay, D-Sulphur; and Randal Gaines, D-LaPlace, voting against the measure.

Under Champagne's bill, House Bill 390, voters would decide whether to limit statewide officials to two consecutive terms. The lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture and commissioner of insurance are not bound by term limits. The term limits would not go into effect until January, and the terms served by current office holders would not count toward the limit.

The state Constitution prohibits the governor from serving more than two consecutive four-year terms and limits lawmakers to three consecutive terms.

"I know in the district I represent, people are over 70 percent in favor of term limits," said Champagne, R-Erath.